Written question asked by Lord Boswell of Aynho (Conservative) on Monday, 24 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 July 2000. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Thursday, 27 July 2000 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on compliance by primary schools with the requirements of the national curriculum in connection with swimming and on the trend in the estimated proportion of those at Key Stage 2 who can swim 25 metres. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on compliance by primary schools with the requirements of the national curriculum in connection with swimming and on the trend in the estimated proportion of those at Key Stage 2 who can swim 25 m. [132907] Jacqui Smith: The National Curriculum entitles all children to learn to swim unaided for a distance of 25 m by the time they leave primary school. In 1999, 82.99 per cent. of pupils were able to swim 25 m by the end of Key Stage 2, according to preliminary findings of an Ofsted report on swimming at Key Stage 2 to be published in the autumn. In 98 per cent. of observed lessons pupils made satisfactory progress or better.

Secondary information